My Favorite Tomato Sauce

1 big can of Whole Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes

1 small can of Tomato Paste

water

Salt & Pepper

Garlic

Dried Basil & Parsley

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Saute a small amount of olive oil and garlic over medium heat in a big pot. Be careful not to burn the garlic!! After the garlic has had a chance to saute, add the can of Whole Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes and break the tomatoes up with your hands or a wooden spoon. I like to leave some of the tomatoes chunky, but that’s just my preference. After the tomatoes are mostly broken up, add the can of Tomato Paste, half of a big can of water, dried basil, dried parsley, salt, pepper and fresh basil. Use your judgement with the amounts that you put in. I like to rip some of the fresh basil up and toss it in & I also throw some whole leaves of basil in the pot. Bring up to a boil and then let simmer for as long as you can!

There you have it. My favorite tomato sauce ever.

Turkey meatballs are also delicious. I actually can’t remember the last time I had a regular beef meatball. I tend to make either chicken or turkey meatballs. They are much healthier for you and I think that they taste better too. Lots of people fry their meatballs, but this version is baked…making them even healthier for you.

Turkey Meatballs

1 package of ground turkey breast (it is important that you buy ground turkey BREAST, this is all white meat. They also sell ground turkey, which is a mix of dark and white meat)

salt & pepper

dried basil & parsley

1 egg or 1 egg white

1-2 small handfuls breadcrumbs (I use Whole Grain Bread Crumbs)

1-2 small handfuls Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

few cloves of minced garlic

milk

Place the ground turkey in a big bowl. Add the egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, pepper, garlic, dried basil & parsley. Mix together with your hands. Add a little bit of milk. Be sure not to overmix the turkey mixture! If the mixture is too wet, add more breadcrumbs…if it is too dry, add more milk. Form into balls. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with PAM. Drizzle a little olive oil over meatballs. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning the meatballs over about 1/2 way through cooking. Enjoy!

Dinner was also served with an amazing loaf of bread that I picked up from Whole Foods today, Organic Multiseed Batard. Next time you’re at Whole Foods, look for it and pick it up! So amazing.

This post is going to be quick as I am pressed for time. There is not enough time in the day at all. After being out all day teaching & at class I have little time for work. I’m trying hard though!

Last night’s dinner was Split Pea Soup with Crackers. I also had some Red Pepper Hummus and Garlic Hummus with crackers. I ❤ Hummus.

This was the perfect thing to come home to on a cold day.

This morning woke up and ran 5 miles.

I had Banana-Date Overnight Oats with the same juice from yesterday (carrots, apple, strawberries aka HEAVEN in a glass)

Two of my favorite things for breakfast. Perfect.

I had work for my graduate assistantship this morning then I went to the first grade for the rest of the day. After first grade, I went to class. I came home and made a nice little dinner…

BBQ Chicken, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato. I love simple dinners.

Now it’s already 9:00 and I have so much work to do. Told you this would be a quick one!

Teaching first grade all day tomorrow then night class. It’ll be another long one. Hopefully I can get this paper done tonight so I can go out to eat with Todd tomorrow night. We are planning on going to a newer restaurant, Village Whiskey, and I am eyeing down the Veggie Burger with Black Beans and Lentils.

I had such a great weekend. Last night Todd and his roommates had an Oktoberfest party. There were tons of people there and it was a good time! I got to see a lot of great people who I haven’t seen in a while.

This morning, Todd & I slept late and then got some brunch at The Devil’s Den, right down the street from his house. This was my first time there and I loved it. I forgot my camera so there are no pictures, but I can assure you it was delicious. I ordered a Yogurt, Granola/toasted nut, fruit parfait. It was topped with some type of cream too. I really liked this and the granola blend was awesome. It came with homefries & a big blueberry scone. Real good!

The rest of the day was spent running errands with Todd. He is going to Baltimore for a couple of days for work so he had some things to do. I did manage to spend some time reading, but not nearly enough. That means I’ll be playing catch up this week. Today during our adventures, I did make one AWESOME purchase. I’ll tell you about it at the end of the post!

Todd came over for dinner tonight and he actually KIND OF helped prepare dinner. haha. We made Broiled Wild Alaskan King Salmon, Broccoli & Brussel Sprouts, & a Salad (Baby Spinach & Arugula mix, strawberries, raspberries, candied walnuts & pecans, balsamic/olive oil/salt/pepper) I just realized right now we forgot to put the feta cheese on the salad! hahaha oh well. It was still great.

My plate. Plus more salad.

I really, really enjoyed this dinner. It has been a long time since I’ve had salmon and I loved it. I love simple yet delicious dinners like this!

After dinner, I enjoyed a Pumpkin Spice Biscotti that I bought from the place we had brunch in Baltimore with my sister.

So good! I’d like to make some biscotti again. I made some pretty great ones last Christmas. I really liked the flavor of the pumpkin and spice though. Maybe I will attempt to make some when I find some free time!

Now…on to the newest excitement in my life…

Yes, I bought a juicer! I just stuck all of the parts in the dishwasher so it’ll be all ready to use tomorrow morning. I am so excited to begin juicing! haha. I went to the food store to stock up on some fruits and veggies to make some delicious (hopefully) juice!! wooo hoooo. I’m a dork!

I’m going to watch some of the Phillies game, read, and hit the sack! No teaching tomorrow thanks to Columbus Day.

This morning I woke up at around 7:20 and got a 5 mile run in. The weather was sunny & cool…pretty perfect. For breakfast, I enjoyed a nice bowl of my favorite overnight oats.

Banana-Date Overnight Oats…

Love them.

I then headed over to campus to meet my advisor for my Graduate Assistantship Assignment. From there, I walked over to my fieldwork placement where I am in a 1st grade classroom. This was my first real time over there and I LOVED it. I love the little ones. I am really looking forward to this field placement!

After fieldwork, I walked back to campus for class. After class, I finally made it back home and made an amazing dinner. I used Fresh Whole Wheat Fettuccini that I bought in the refrigerated section of Wegman’s.

I topped that with my homemade sauce that I made yesterday, parm. cheese, spinach, & broccoli. I also had a Whole Foods Whole Wheat Roll on the side.

This hit the spot! I love, love, love pasta.

So good! Probably one of my favorite meals. Now it’s already 9:o0 and I have tons of work to do. gahhh. Off to do work & have a little dessert.

Yesterday I got a lot of reading done. It feels good, but I have tons more to do. It is never-ending. I took a break and ordered some dinner from a restaurant a couple of blocks away. Yes, I was lazy enough to get it delivered to me. haha. I ordered Homemade Whole Wheat Fettucini with Spinach & Broccoli in red sauce.

This was so good! They even brought me some rolls! Yum. I went back for a little more and then saved the rest for another time!

I then went back to some reading & then I went out with my sister for some dessert ! I ordered a Plain Tart Frozen Yogurt bowl with Bananas, Blueberries, & Strawberries.

This was a huge serving of frozen yogurt and it was awesome. I loved it. Sorry about the horrible picture.

This morning I slept in till about 9:00. I turned on the Food Network and made myself some oatmeal.

Today I spent the majority of my day helping out around my Dad’s office. I actually accomplished a lot, so I’m glad that I helped! My plan was to do my run tonight, but I would truly rather relax. So I’m going to listen to what I want to do and take the day off. Tomorrow I plan to pick it back up and do my 7 mile speed work run in the morning. After reading Matt’s post, I have more of an idea of what my workout will be. Thanks for the helpful info! I’m excited for my first official tempo run, I can’t wait to share with you how it goes.

Tonight for dinner, my mom made her homemade pasta sauce with homemade chicken meatballs. We enjoyed this with Italian Bread for soaking up the red sauce! It has been a LONG time since I have had these chicken meatballs. I don’t think I have had them all summer! When I make them, I usually make them with Turkey though. Either way, they are delicious!

My plate with my add-ons of Spinach & Broccoli.

Remember, tonight is your LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE LARABAR GIVEAWAY! You have until 11:59 P.M. !! Looks like you have about 2 more hours. I will announce the winner in my post tomorrow!

Also, head over to Kashi’s website and sign up for a free sample of Cereal!! I ordered Honey Sunshine to be sent to my house! Nothing like free food!

Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a good Monday and good first day back at school for all of you students who started back up today! The weather here was so strange, it felt like a cool Fall day. It was very nice & would have been a great day to run, but today was my rest day! Maybe the temperature will be similar tomorrow.

Well yesterday I ended up meeting my sister, Danielle, to see (500) Days of Summer. Yes, this is my second time seeing it! I really love this movie and it has awesome songs throughout it. Before I met her I heated up some of my leftover Vegetarian Black Bean Chili with Bulgur.

mmm…mmm. Just as good as the night before. I topped it with slices of Avocado & a sprinkling of Kosher Salt. Of course, I had a Whole Foods Seeduction Roll on the side. Can’t beat it! Some of you asked where to find these in Whole Foods. It’s right in the bakery with all of the breads! They make both Seeduction Loaves and Rolls.

After the movie, I hung out with my parents and made an ice cream sundae.

Edy’s Slow Churned Peanut Butter Cup is so good!!! Especially when it’s topped with a sliced banana! It was so good that I went back for seconds.

I then watched part of 7 Pounds with my Dad. It was late & we both ended up falling asleep…typical. I heard it was a good movie but I thought it was really weird. I don’t know…we were both really confused about what was happening for a long time. I guess it just might be a slow moving movie? Anyone see it?

I spent the majority of the day helping out at my Dad’s office doing filing. It is BORING stuff but it’s a help.

Today I cut open my first pomegranate of the season! Oh how I have missed them.

My Pom Seeds.

What better way to enjoy it then to put it in Chobani Pomegranate Greek Yogurt?!

So good!

Tonight for dinner, I heated up a piece of leftover grilled BBQ chicken. Along the side I made broccoli, baked sweet potato slices, and a nice ear of Jersey Corn.

Awesome dinner! I bought those sweet potatoes today from a nearby farmer’s market. They are homegrown there. Usually they sell normal sized ones, but today they had a bucket of these mini-sized orange yams.

They were so cute so I bought them!

After dinner, I went to meet one of my best friends from high school. I haven’t seen Larissa in a couple of years! We have been trying to get together & it has finally happened! haha. It was so great to see her and we talked for a while. We will both be going to school in Philly this year, so I hope that I get to see her more often!

At the fro yo place, I made a cup of Tart & Vanilla fro yo topped with Reese’s Cups & Peanut Butter Sauce. As usual, it was awesome.